2.1 Context Overview

The Irish Government has developed a wide range of policies, strategies and schemes

to positively impact the health of children in Ireland. Collectively, these policies aim to

develop dedicated high quality child health service and an associated workforce,

whilst also promoting positive health behaviours and mental health amongst children,

young people and their families.

The National Healthy Childhood Programme covers child health check-ups,

vaccinations, and screening. It is free to all children, promoting equal access and

greater acceptability for families. The programme covers the Maternity and Infant Care

Scheme, the Child Health, Immunisation, Screening and Surveillance Programme and the

GP Visit Card Scheme for children. Since 2015, all children under 6 years are entitled

to a free GP Visit Card (subsequently extended to all children under 8). The scheme

also covers age-based preventive health checks at ages 2 and 5, and a cycle of care

for children with asthma.

The Child Health, Immunisation, Screening and Surveillance Programme makes available

a range of free universal screening and surveillance services. These include screening

for metabolic disorders, a hearing test, and regular developmental checks and

assessments (from birth to four years).

The Nurture Infant Health and Wellbeing Programme, developed through the

aforementioned Healthy Childhood Programme, aims to improve health and wellbeing

for babies, young children and their families, with a strong emphasis on improving the

information and professional supports provided to parents from pregnancy through

to the first three years of life. The National Women and Infant Health Programme

provides health promotion supports for mothers and their babies, including smoking

cessation, access to antenatal dietetic services and nutritional advice.

In terms of policies aimed at improving health behaviours, the Healthy Food for Life

guidelines and resources promote healthier food choices and are incorporated into all

nutrition work with school, community and health service staff. A Healthy Weight for

Ireland is the national obesity policy and action plan, the aim of which is to increase

the number of people with a healthy weight, with specific targets for children (a

sustained downward trend in levels of excess weight in children and a reduction in

the gap in obesity levels between the highest and the lowest socioeconomic groups).

Get Ireland Active is the national physical activity plan, aiming to increase physical

activity levels across the population with specific targets for children. Healthy Eating

and Active Living is a national policy priority programme that ensures implementation

of the obesity and physical activity plans across the health services.

In terms of parental health behaviours, Tobacco Free Ireland sets a target for Ireland to

be tobacco free by 2025, with the protection of children prioritised. Legislation to

ban smoking in places where children are present has been enacted (as is the case of

smoking in cars) or is planned, and local authorities are engaged in a range of

activities to make children’s playgrounds, parks and beaches smoke-free. Reducing

Harm, Supporting Recovery: A Health-Led Response to Drug and Alcohol Use in Ireland

includes actions to mitigate risk and reduce the impact of parental substance misuse

on babies and young children.

More broadly, Sláintecare is the ten-year programme to transform Ireland’s health and

social care services. It is billed as the roadmap for building a world-class health service

in Ireland. The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme aims to improve the long-

term health and well-being of children and adults living in the most disadvantaged

communities by addressing the wider determinants of health. Young Ireland, the

national policy framework for children and young people, identifies nutrition, physical

activity, healthcare services, and the improved provision of outdoor play and

recreation facilities amongst its priorities. As noted in Chapter 1, ‘optimum physical

and mental health’ is one of the main goals of First 5, the whole-of-government

strategy for the early years.

2.2 Findings from Growing Up in Ireland Cohort 08 at age 3 years12